PORT HARCOURT- FEDERAL Government has been accused of marginalising the Urhobo people in political appointments.

Urhobo Nationalists Movement, in a petition to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, complained that it was set to embark on what it termed a non-violent agitation for self-determination.

The petition, by Mr. Mumakai Unagba and Mr. Friday Otobrise, President and Secretary of the body, respectively, said the Federal Govern-ment violated the section of the country’s constitu-tion which dealt with fundamental objectives and principles of state policy when President Goodluck Jonathan con-stituted his cabinet with-out an Urhobo person.

The petition, also copied the President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, called for a state to be created for the Urhobo nation.

The group argued that with over 2.4 million people and covering an area of 10,000 square km, the Urhobo nation was long overdue for at least two states in the country.

The petition reads: “There are over 15 oil and gas fields and about 400 oil wells located in Urhobo land. The Urhobo nation contributes sub-stantially to the Federation Account. It is worthy of note that a highly rated quality of crude and gas are found in Urhoboland with the largest gas plant in Africa at Utorogun in Ughelli South Local Government Area in Urhoboland.

“Urhobo communities also host a refinery, a petro-chemical plant, a gas company and the Delta Steel Company at Aladja. These are compa-nies where the govern-ment of Nigeria is exploiting the people without return.

“Today, the various oil fields in Urhoboland have been sold to agents of the Federal Government and non-stakeholders. They have sold Delta Steel Company, the only functioning steel plant industry in the country, to themselves all in the name of privatisation.”